WEBVTT
S
BETTER ABLE TO MEET THE
COMMUNITY'S NEEDS.
THE SHELBY COMMUNITY CENTER GYM
WAS BUILT IN THE 1980s, THE
BUILDING WAS UNS USED FOR
BASKETBALL, AMATEUR BOXING AND
EVEN A FOOD PEAN PANTRY, BUT
NOW.
>> IT HAS ASBESTOS IN IT.
IN ORDER FOR US TO DO ANYTHING
WITH IT, WE HAVE TO REMOVE
ASBESTOS FLOORS IN THERE.
>> RONALD WALKER IS THE PASTOR
AT SHELBY CONGREGATIONAL
METHODIST CHURCH.
THEY RECEIVE THE DEED TO THE
CHURCH BACK IN JANUARY.
WALKER SAID AN ENGINEER LOOKED
AT THE BUILDING A ESTIMATES
RENOVATION COSTS AT $300,000.
BUILDING A NEW CENTER WOULD BE
AN ESTIMATED $650,000.
>> WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE BETTER
TO TAKE IT DOWN AND CHANGE THE
WHOLE IMAGE OF THE BUILDING A
THE WHOLE USE FOR THE BUILDING.
>> >>: THE PASTOR SAYS A NEW
COMMUNITY CENTER COULD HOST
AFTER SCHOOL AND SUMMER LUNCH
PROGRAMS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE, WHICH
RESIDENTS SAY THE COMMUNITY
NEEDS.
>> WHA
WITH THE COMMUNITY CENTER
BEING REBUILT, IT GIVES THE
OTHER CHILDREN IN THE LOWER
INCOME CLASS FAMILIES
OPPORTUNITY TO KNOW THAT THEY
CAN DO AS MUCH AS THE NEXT CHILD
THAT IS PROVIDE.
>> I'M HOPING THAT IT CAN BE
REBUILT AND BE BETTER TO THE
COMMUNITY, TO GET OUR YOUNG

Leaders of one Shelbyville church want to demolish a decades-old community center, so a new center can be built. They say the plan will need a little help from the city to become a reality.
The Shelby Community Center Gym was built in the 1980s.
The building was once used for basketball, amateur boxing, a food pantry and other church events, but now, Pastor Ronald Walker of the Shelby Congregational Methodist Church says it is in bad shape.
"It’s got asbestos in there, and in order for us to do anything there, whether we’re going to remodel it or to demolish it, we’ve got to remove the asbestos floors in there," Walker said.
The church received the deed to the property back in January.
Walker says the building also has mold and needs major roof repairs.
Walker says an engineer has looked at the building and estimates renovation would cost about $300,000, while building a new community center could cost more than twice that amount.
"We thought it would be better if we just take it down and change the whole image of the building and the whole use for the building," Walker said.
The pastor says a new community center could host after-school and summer lunch programs for young people, which residents say the community needs.
"With the community center being rebuilt, it gives our other children in the lower income class families opportunity to know that they can do as much as the next child is provided," Sharon Farris, who lives near the center, said.
"I’m hoping that it can be rebuilt and be better to the community, to get our young youth off the street, and have somewhere for them to go and participate," church member Charlotte Elzy said.
Shelbyville Mayor Thomas Hardesty says the finance committee will review the proposal to see how much help the city can provide.
If the plan comes together and a new community center is built, Walker hopes to see it named after the late Louis Coleman Jr.

SHELBYVILLE, Ky. —

Leaders of one Shelbyville church want to demolish a decades-old community center, so a new center can be built.

They say the plan will need a little help from the city to become a reality.

The Shelby Community Center Gym was built in the 1980s.

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The building was once used for basketball, amateur boxing, a food pantry and other church events, but now, Pastor Ronald Walker of the Shelby Congregational Methodist Church says it is in bad shape.

"It’s got asbestos in there, and in order for us to do anything there, whether we’re going to remodel it or to demolish it, we’ve got to remove the asbestos floors in there," Walker said.

The church received the deed to the property back in January.

Walker says the building also has mold and needs major roof repairs.

Walker says an engineer has looked at the building and estimates renovation would cost about $300,000, while building a new community center could cost more than twice that amount.

"We thought it would be better if we just take it down and change the whole image of the building and the whole use for the building," Walker said.

The pastor says a new community center could host after-school and summer lunch programs for young people, which residents say the community needs.

"With the community center being rebuilt, it gives our other children in the lower income class families opportunity to know that they can do as much as the next child is provided," Sharon Farris, who lives near the center, said.

"I’m hoping that it can be rebuilt and be better to the community, to get our young youth off the street, and have somewhere for them to go and participate," church member Charlotte Elzy said.

Shelbyville Mayor Thomas Hardesty says the finance committee will review the proposal to see how much help the city can provide.

If the plan comes together and a new community center is built, Walker hopes to see it named after the late Louis Coleman Jr.